Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: A bitter feud has stalled the opening of Meghalaya’s Khasi Traditional Medicine Institute. The Centre of Learning, Knowledge and Services, known as COLKS, claims the facility is a wreck. They accuse the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council of handing over an incomplete building despite a 9.47 crore investment.
The dispute hit a boiling point after Council Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh demanded to know why the Lum Sohpetbneng site remains shut. He claims the facility has sat empty for two years and the council has yet to see a penny of the 6 lakh annual lease. COLKS fired back, insisting the building lacked power, water, and even a fence when they took it in July 2024.
COLKS says electricity only arrived in February 2025. They are still waiting on water. The group claims they had a verbal deal with the council to waive 18 months of rent because the site was unfit for use. "The organisation added that electricity became available only in February 2025, while the water supply issue has yet to be resolved."
Nature and crime have also taken a toll. A burglary hit the site in June 2025, followed by a lightning strike in July. COLKS blames poor construction, specifically a missing earthing system, for the electrical damage. They argue the project is being dragged into political drama, leaving the future of indigenous healing practices in limbo.
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